Difference between revisions of "Poecilia wingei"

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|family=Poeciliidae
 
|family=Poeciliidae
 
|captive_bred=Yes
 
|captive_bred=Yes
|difficulty=E
+
|difficulty=VE
|min_size=1.5
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|min_size=3
|max_size=3
+
|max_size=5
 
|size_units=cm
 
|size_units=cm
 
|stocking_ratio_male=1
 
|stocking_ratio_male=1
|stocking_ratio_female=2
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|stocking_ratio_female=3
 
|diet=O
 
|diet=O
 
|food_flake=Yes
 
|food_flake=Yes
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|max_life_span=5
 
|max_life_span=5
 
|min_sg=1
 
|min_sg=1
|max_sg=1
+
|max_sg=1.026
 
|min_tank_size=10
 
|min_tank_size=10
 
|min_tank_size_unit=gal
 
|min_tank_size_unit=gal
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|max_temperature=28
 
|max_temperature=28
 
|temperature_units=C
 
|temperature_units=C
|min_water_hardness=8
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|min_water_hardness=5
|max_water_hardness=12
+
|max_water_hardness=20
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Origin ==
 
== Origin ==
:South America: Campoma and Buena Vista Lagoons in Venezuela.
+
:South America: Campoma and Buena Vista Lagoons in Venezuela. Chiefly a freshwater fish but can thrive in full strength sea water if acclimated carefully.
 
+
   
     
 
 
== Sexing ==
 
== Sexing ==
:Males are very brightly coloured, with varying patterns of orange, black, green and blue. Females are slightly larger and broader than males, and are pale green in colour. Aside from colouration, sex can also be determined by the presence of the [[gonopodium]] organ. Mature females also have a dark [[gravid spot]] near their vent.
+
:Males are very brightly coloured, with varying patterns of orange, black, green and blue. Females are significantly larger and less streamlined than males, and are pale green/brown in colour. Aside from coloration, sex can also be determined by the presence of the [[gonopodium]] organ, a modified, enlongated anal fin used in mating that often develops before the males begin to develop color. Mature females have a dark [[gravid spot]] near their vent, like many other livebearers.
 
 
:Juvenile males develop their gonopodium often before their colouring develops.
 
  
 
== Breeding ==
 
== Breeding ==
:Like Guppies, these guys are very highly sexed. A female kept in a tank with males is almost guaranteed to be pregnant. They are livebearers and give birth to small batches of live young after about 21 days of pregnancy. It's best to keep them in a strict ratio of 2-3 females per male. Unlike other livebearers, Endlers will not eat their young.
+
:As with domesticated guppies, these fish are very easily bred. A female kept in a tank with any males is almost guaranteed to be pregnant, and they can store sperm from one mating to produce several subsequent broods without any additional contact with males. They are livebearers and give birth to small batches of live young after about 21 days of pregnancy. The young are rarely eaten by the parents and can eat powdered fry food, baby brine shrimp, or microworms immediately.
 
 
 
        
 
        
 
== Tank compatibility ==
 
== Tank compatibility ==
:Endler's are best in species tanks, purely for their adult size as they are tiny. Most other fish wouldn't think twice about swallowing one. They can however be kept with other small peaceful fish such as [[:Category:Otocinclus|Otocinclus Catfish]] and [[Dwarf Corydoras]].
+
:Endler's are very peaceful fishes, but their small size - especially in adult males - limits what fishes they can be placed with. Aggressive or predatory fishes (angelfish, medium/large gouramies, etc) should not be mixed with these livebearers. If spawning is the primary goal, they are best kept in a species tank. As with guppies, male endlers are constantly obsessed with reproduction and should be outnumbered by females three to one to avoid needlessly stressing the females.
 
 
:Endler's are a wild equivalent of the [[Guppy]], and can therefore hybridise, these hybrids are not as sought after as pure Endler's, so keeping the two species together is not recommended.
 
 
 
 
        
 
        
 
== Diet ==
 
== Diet ==
:Endler's are omnivores and will eat algae-based flake food, freeze-dried [[bloodworm]]s, [[tubifex]], [[brine shrimp]], small pellets and flakes. When feeding flake or pellet food make sure it is small enough for these fish to eat.
+
:Endler's are omnivores and will eat virtually anything that will fit in their mouths. As with most fishes, regular feedings of live and frozen food will result in improved color and health, though they will eagerly eat prepared food.
 
+
   
     
 
 
== Feeding regime ==
 
== Feeding regime ==
:Feed once to three times a day in small amounts.
+
:Endlers eat constantly in the wild, and while they are not picky about the frequency of feedings they will benefit from multiple very small feedings a day.
 
 
 
        
 
        
 
== Environment specifics ==
 
== Environment specifics ==
:This fish appreciates a spacious planted tank with excellent water quality. Keeping plants such as [[Java Moss]] will mean that any babies have places to hide.
+
:Not picky about tank conditions as long as the water is fairly hard and alkaline, but heavily planted tanks will improve fry survival rates. Prefers somewhat warmer waters that common guppies. Needs a secure lid, as they may jump.
 
+
         
     
+
== Notes ==
== Behaviour ==
+
:Very similar to wild type guppies, though most endler variants are much more green than wild guppies; females and fry of the two are nearly indistinguishable. The two species will also readily hybridize in aquariums, so if a purebred colony of endlers is desired the two should not be mixed. Endlers are otherwise excellent beginner's fish, easy to breed and relatively resilient.
:A docile and curious little fish. It is reactive to the goings on outside the tank and will gather when it's feeding time.
 
 
 
     
 
== Identification ==
 
:A small fish, much smaller than Guppies, the males are brightly coloured and the females plain pale green. Watch out as females can look almost identical to baby Guppies. And when they're babies they're almost impossible to tell apart from Guppies.
 
:Hybrids can easily told apart from pure Endlers as they will have elongated tails or "swords", elongated dorsal fins and guppy-like patterns. A true Endler will have a rounded caudal fin and short dorsal fin.
 
:Due to selective breeding from dedicated Endler fans, there are now lots of different named colour types available, and many more still being created.
 
  
 
        
 
        

Latest revision as of 18:10, 13 November 2019

Endler's Livebearer

Poeciliawingei.jpg
Endler's Livebearer

Poecilia wingei

38 Litres (10 US G.)

3-5 cm (1.2-2")

sg

1 - 1.026

pH

7.0 - 8.0

23 -28 °C (73.4-82.4°F)

5-20 °d

1:3 M:F

Omnivore
Pellet Foods
Flake Foods
Live Foods
Other (See article)

3-5 years

Family

Poeciliidae

This animal is available captive bred



Additional names

Endler's Livebearer, Endler

Additional scientific names

Acanthophacelus wingei


Origin[edit]

South America: Campoma and Buena Vista Lagoons in Venezuela. Chiefly a freshwater fish but can thrive in full strength sea water if acclimated carefully.

Sexing[edit]

Males are very brightly coloured, with varying patterns of orange, black, green and blue. Females are significantly larger and less streamlined than males, and are pale green/brown in colour. Aside from coloration, sex can also be determined by the presence of the gonopodium organ, a modified, enlongated anal fin used in mating that often develops before the males begin to develop color. Mature females have a dark gravid spot near their vent, like many other livebearers.

Breeding[edit]

As with domesticated guppies, these fish are very easily bred. A female kept in a tank with any males is almost guaranteed to be pregnant, and they can store sperm from one mating to produce several subsequent broods without any additional contact with males. They are livebearers and give birth to small batches of live young after about 21 days of pregnancy. The young are rarely eaten by the parents and can eat powdered fry food, baby brine shrimp, or microworms immediately.

Tank compatibility[edit]

Endler's are very peaceful fishes, but their small size - especially in adult males - limits what fishes they can be placed with. Aggressive or predatory fishes (angelfish, medium/large gouramies, etc) should not be mixed with these livebearers. If spawning is the primary goal, they are best kept in a species tank. As with guppies, male endlers are constantly obsessed with reproduction and should be outnumbered by females three to one to avoid needlessly stressing the females.

Diet[edit]

Endler's are omnivores and will eat virtually anything that will fit in their mouths. As with most fishes, regular feedings of live and frozen food will result in improved color and health, though they will eagerly eat prepared food.

Feeding regime[edit]

Endlers eat constantly in the wild, and while they are not picky about the frequency of feedings they will benefit from multiple very small feedings a day.

Environment specifics[edit]

Not picky about tank conditions as long as the water is fairly hard and alkaline, but heavily planted tanks will improve fry survival rates. Prefers somewhat warmer waters that common guppies. Needs a secure lid, as they may jump.

Notes[edit]

Very similar to wild type guppies, though most endler variants are much more green than wild guppies; females and fry of the two are nearly indistinguishable. The two species will also readily hybridize in aquariums, so if a purebred colony of endlers is desired the two should not be mixed. Endlers are otherwise excellent beginner's fish, easy to breed and relatively resilient.

Pictures[edit]

Videos[edit]

Links[edit]